King Louis XVI

Successor to the throne in 1774, at not even at age 20, Louis XVI had an enormous responsibility to tackle. As the government was deeply in debt, and resentment of the monarchy was on the rise. Louis also felt unqualified for the job. In his rule, Louis focused primarily on religious uniformity and foreign policy. His concentration on religious uniformity, and pressure the Jansenist Parlement, ultimately lead to his decision to expel Jesuits from France. He attempted to gain the love of his people by reinstating parlements. It was soon clear that he lacked firmness and decisiveness. Louis's desire to be loved by his people is evident in many of his edicts that would often explain the nature and good intention of Louis's actions to benefit the people. Ironically, the people grew to hate their ruler. By overspending in the American revolution and the implementation of a poor tax system, France fell into heavy debt. His persistence to heavily tax the people would become the end of him. On January 15, 1793, King Louis XVI was executed by means of the guillotine.